File.



PATENTED OUT. 25, 1904.

FILE.

ATION FILED mm: 5.1903.

F. G. BILLINGS.

BX ATTORNEYS UNiTnflSTATEs Patented October 25, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

FILE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 773,463, dated October 25, 1904.

Application filed dune 5,1903. Serial No. 160,260. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK CHR'IsTo- PHOR BILLINGS, a citizen of the United States, and'a resident of Macon, in the county of Macon and State of Missouri,have invented a new and Improved File, of which the following is 'a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to a file of that class in which a box or case for the papers is provided, this box having an open side and a spring-retained follower to hold the papers snugly yet removably in place.

The invention is designed especially as a means for conveniently holding music-sheets in condition for ready access,but may be useful for filing papers of any sort, as will be obvious. I This specification is an exact description of one example of the invention, while the claims define the actual scope thereof.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both views.

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the invention, and Fig. 2 is a section thereof'on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1.

The box or case for the papers comprises a back 0 having side walls 6 and e, an end wall 0 and a ledge e, forming a partial front wall, the interior of the box being exposed through the front side and the open end opposite the end 6 Arranged within the case or box and occupying, essentially, the area thereof are two follower-boards f, which are respectively engaged by the branches g of a spring-retainer. Said spring retainer is formed of wire or other material in one continuous length, the ends 9 being pivoted to the ledge 6* by means of screw-eyes g or the like, and the branches g being connected at their free ends by a laterally-bowed member 9 Said spring-retainer is held in active position by means of a hook it, which is pivoted to the right-hand edge of the bottom 6 of the box and has its bill arranged to engage the arched middle portion of the connecting member The parts g and being of spring material, and the former parts extending, essentially, throughout the length of the file, equally distribute the spring-pressure on the followerboards 7", and this insures holding the papers or sheets of music in fiat form, avoiding the crushing or crumpling' of the papers, which disadvantage frequently occurs in files heretofore employed, owing to the presence therein of a single spring bearing on the papers at one point only.

The manner of using the file will, it is thought, be apparent to persons skilled in this class of devices. Reference to Fig. 1 will show that index-sheets may be employed and the papers filed between these sheets, as is usual. A suitable case should be provided for the file and a number of the files may of course be used in connection with the same case, the files lying flat or edgewise therein, as may be preferred.

Various changes in the form, proportions, and minor details of my invention may be resorted to at will without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Hence I consider myself entitled to all such variations as may lie within the intent of my claims.

Having thus described my invention,I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. Afile com prising a box or case, two independently-removable follower-boards there.

in, a spring-retainer comprising two side members parallel with each other and bearing respectively on the follower-boards, inclined members at one end of the side members and extending upward and inward in direction of each other and pivoted to the box or case to swing thereon, the other ends of said parallel side members being connected by an upwardly arched or bowed member having a straight central portion, and means for engaging said straight central portion of the bowed member for releasably holding the spring-retainer in active position.

' 2. A file comprising a box or case having a back wall, side walls, and an end wall, and a ledge connected with the end and side walls and forming a partial front wall, a springfollower mounted to swing on the edge of said ledge and having two side members extending parallel with each other, and parallel with the sides of the case, when in active position, two follower boards independently movable in the case or box and engaged respectively by the said parallel side members of the followerand means for releasably holding the springretainer in active position, the construction permitting the spring to spread toward the sides according to the amount of material placed in the box or case.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two sub- 20 scribing witnesses.

FREDERICK OIIRISTOPIIOR BILLINGS.

Witnesses:

ELMER L. ENGLISH, ALoNzo ENGLISH. 

